I just got a new cell phone and a new number last month. The problem is, I am now getting collection calls from a whole bunch of people for the person who previously had this number. He had managed to bounce checks (and apparently, still is) all over town that have his old/my new number on 'em. When I set up my phone, it took a couple hours for Cingular to find a number in my area code and I've already given out the number to all of my friends and family. I'd rather not go through all of that again, so I'm looking for other solutions. Any ideas?
The problem is, even if you take up the hobby of getting each caller to stop calling, there is no general way to stop future calls for this guy from new CAs, for either these debts, or new ones. They are not calling your number based on information you, but based on information on him. Despite the trouble, your most effective solution is to change your number. The alternative is to live with screening your calls and shutting off your voicemail. It is far easier to give a new number out to family and friends, than to send ineffective notices to callers you can't even locate and paying charges for their calls until they stop.
